Golf ball cleaner



Oct. 23, 1951 R KAPLAN L 2,572,349

GOLF BALL CLEANER Filed July 21, 1950 fs vo rH 6402:

SEMI-196KB JFCWGE IN VEN TOR. 4 W bs/7 ITO/4A1? Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLF BALL CLEANER.

Robert Kaplan, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 21, 1950, Serial No. 175,142

Claims.

This application discloses a portable cleaner for golf balls comprising a rubber block in which is disposed a golf ball scraping means, a golf ball washing means, and a golf ball drying means.

The invention broadly comprises a cleaner in the form of a block of semi-hard sponge rubber having opposed concave, hemi-spherical golf ball "receiving sockets, one of which has its surface Fig. 3 is an elevation view, partly in section,

for purposes of clarity.

The portable golf ball cleaner shown in the drawing comprises a block I0 of semi-hard sponge rubber, preferably, for appearance purposes, being in the form of a partial sphere, as shown, and having its spherical surface smooth glazed and possibly dimpled to simulate a golf ball, with the block, however, being substantially larger than the conventional golf ball.

At opposite ends of the block, as shown, are hemi-spherical golf ball receiving sockets II and I2 in each of which a golf ball may be disposed and rolled around to have its surface come in firm pressure contact with the surface of the socket.

Socket II has a soft sponge rubber pad I4 on its bottom surface. Such pad is adapted to be wetted and possibly, if desired, saturated with detergent for cleaning a golf ball disposed in socket I I, with excess water held in the device by the spongy character not only of the pad [4, but also of the block I0.

Socket I2 has its bottom lined with a chamois disc I6 for drying a golf ball previously wetted and cleaned in socket l I.

The surface of socket II is roughened for scraping a golf ball placed in and rolled around in such socket.

Pad I4 and liner I6 are in the form of discs and the sockets have side grooves I8 and 19 undercut therein for receiving the edges 20 and 2| of such discs and thus holding them in place, reliance being had upon the nature of the block H] to frictionally grip the discs once these are 2 tucked into the sockets and the side grooves. Thus, the discs are held in place firmly and yet easily insertable and removable with no attaching means such as clamps, adhesive, etc.

While in many cases the rough character of the surface of socket ll provided by the nature of the block material will be adequate for scraping golf balls in socket l I, if desired, small projections 24 may be formed on such surface as, for example, when the socket I l is moulded with the block! and these projections will beyond any question function efiiciently for scraping and thus cleaning a golf ball in socket II as the latter is rolled around in such socket and wetted from sponge I4.

The bottom of the socket II may be formed with a hump 26 for convexing the pad I4 and thus enhancing the functioning of such pad to clean a golf ball.

If desired, but not shown, the block may be formed with any suitable means for'receiving a flexible cord to enable the block to be removably attached to a golf ba or a golfers belt. 7

When a golf ball is to be cleaned it is first placed in socket I I and rolled around under pressure so that its surface is scraped by the roughened surface of such socket as well as wetted and cleaned from the sponge I4, after which the golf ball may be placed in socket [2 to be dried by liner l6. I

Undercuts at I8 and the space occupied by pad I4 provide a basin adapted to be filled partially with water for saturating sponge pad I4 therein and held in place by block [0.

Now having described the golf ball cleaner herein disclosed, reference should be had to the claims which follow for a determination of the invention hereof.

Iclaim:

1. A portable golf ball cleaner comprising a block of rubber material having opposed substantially parallel faces, these faces having opposed concave golf ball receiving sockets which are in spaced back to back relation, each socket being substantially hemispherical and of a size to receive a substantial part of a golf ball, one of these sockets having a soft spongy water absorbing pad on its bottom surface for absorbing water and for washing a golf ball therein, and the other having a wiping material liner on its bottom surface for wiping a golf ball therein, the block being of a material that is substantially non-absorbent and impervious to flow of water through it from the pad, whereby neither the liner nor the outer surface of the block will become wet from the pad.

2. A portable golf ball cleaner comprising a block of rubber material having opposed substantially parallel faces, these faces having opposed concave golf ball receiving sockets which are in spaced back to back relation, each socket being substantially hemispherical and of a size to receive a substantial part of a golf ball, one of these sockets having;- a, soft spongy watedabsorbing pad on its bottom surface for absorbing water and for washing a golf ball therein, and, the other having a wiping material liner on its bottom surface for wiping a golf ball thereimthe; block being of a material that is substantially non-absorbent and impervious to flow of waterthrough it from the pad, whereby neither the;

liner nor the outer surface of the block will become wet from the pad, the: pad and the liner being in the form of discs, with the sockets having side grooves: for receiving: the edges of said discs; and thus holding them inaplaoe.

3;. A, portable golf ball cleaner comprising a block of rubber: material having opposed.- substantially parallel faces, these: faces having opposed concave golf ball receiving sockets which are in spaced back to. back: relation, each socket being substantially: hemispherical and of a size to receive; a substantial. part of a golf ball, one of these sockets having a soft. spongy water absorbing pad onitsbottom surface for absorbin water and for washing a golf ball therein, and

the other having a, wiping material, liner on its the block being of a material that is substantially non-absorbent, and impervious. to. flow of water through it from. the pad, whereby neither the liner nor the outer, surface of the block will become wet from the pad, the first named socket having a basin in its bottom formed by side grooving or undercutting the socket; at its bottom, said basin containing said pad.

4: A portable golf ball cleaner comprising a block of rubber material having opposed substantially parallel faces, these faces having opposed concave golf ball receiving sockets which are in spaced back toback relation, each socket being substantially hemispherical and of a size to receivev a substantial part of a golf ball, one of these sockets having a. soft. spongy water absorbing pad on its bottom surface for absorbing Water and for washing: a golf ball therein, and

the other having a wiping material liner on its bottom surface for wiping a golf ball therein, the block being of a material that is substantially non-absorbent and impervious to flow of water through it from the pad, whereby neither the liner nor the outer surface of the block will become wet from the pad, the first named socket having a basin in its bottom formed by side grooving or undercutting the socket at its bottom, said-f basin containingsaidi, pad, with the pad containing socket having its" exposed surface roughened for scraping a golf ball in said socket, with such roughened surface comprising projectionslformed on and projecting from the surface.

5. A portable golf ball cleaner comprising a blockof rubber material having opposed substantially parallel faces, these faces having opposed concave golf ball receiving sockets which are in spaced back to back relation, each socket being substantially hemispherical and of a size to: receive a substantial: part of a golfball-, one

of, these sockets having asoft spongy water ab.- sorbing pad. on its bottom surface for absorbing water and for washing a golf ball therein, and the, other having a wiping material liner on; its bottom surface for wiping a golf ball therein, the block being of. a materialwthatsubstantially non-absorbent and impervious to flow of water through it from the pad, whereby" neither,- the liner nor the outer surface of the block will; becomewet from the pad, the first namedsocket having a basin in its bottom. formed by side grooving or undercutting the: socket at its bottom, said basin containing said! pad; the bottom of the'basin having a. convex: hump f'or convexing the pad in said basin.

ROBERTKAPLAN.

REFERENCES GITED The following references are of record in the file. of this patent:

UNITED STATESZ PATENTS.

Number Name Date:

1,565,414, Byrne- Dec; 15,. 1925 1,702,172 Rennie Apr; 12, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 187,112 Great Britain, Oct. 19, 1922 404,322 Great Britain-n... Jan. 12, 1934 619.32 Great Brita-inu Mar. 8,1949 

